Are You Washing Your Hands With a Pesticide?

If you take a look at the label on your anti-bacterial soap, you may see the chemical triclosan listed. If you haven’t heard of triclosan, you should know that is in a number of products that you may be using on a daily basis. Triclosan was introduced to the marketplace in 1972, although it was originally developed and registered as a pesticide in 1969. (1) At that time it was used in hospitals and health care settings for its antibacterial properties.

Triclosan can also appear in products branded Microban®, Irgasan® (DP 300 or PG 60), or on products labeled “built-in antimicrobial protection.” Some antibacterial soaps use triclosan’s cousin, triclocarban in place of triclosan.

Why should I be concerned about triclosan?

A study led by researchers at UC Davis concluded that triclosan hinders muscle function in both animals and humans. In recent years additional studies have shown that this chemical poses a number of health risks.

According to a study published at PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America), the commonly used antimicrobial additive triclosan is a liver tumor promoter.

Dr. Isaac Pessah, of the Department of Molecular Biosciences at UC Davis, as well as the study’s lead author, states “Its production levels are quite high, and the levels in humans have been increasing since it was first used as an antibacterial agent in the early ‘70s. So the body levels in humans including plasma, urine and breast milk – have been steadily increasing.” (3)

Co-author Nipavan Chiamvimonvat adds “Although triclosan is not regulated as a drug, this compound acts like a potent cardiac depressant in our models.” Chiamvimonvat went on to say “In patients with underlying heart failure, triclosan could have significant effects because it is so widely used,” he added “However, without additional studies, it would be difficult for a physician to distinguish between natural disease progression and an environmental factor such as triclosan.” (4)

In conclusion

I see no benefit in using anti-bacterial soaps in the home. In fact the FDA said in a press release, “There is currently no evidence that they are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. Further, some data suggest that long-term exposure to certain active ingredients used in antibacterial products—for example, triclosan (liquid soaps) and triclocarban (bar soaps)—could pose health risks, such as bacterial resistance or hormonal effects.” (5)

To be honest I have no desire to use a product that contains an ingredient that is classified as a pesticide. (1)